TR
EN
DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS
Abstract
This study develops and applies a pattern-based approach to identify potentially fraudulent activity in Bitcoin transactions through the analysis of wallet-level behaviors. Examining a dataset of 8,526 Bitcoin wallets, we identified 72 wallets (0.84%) exhibiting at least one of five suspicious transaction patterns: one-time high-value transfers, potential mixing services, sudden draining of significant wallets, abnormal transaction rates, and large dormant wallets. Despite their small number, these suspicious wallets controlled 777.15 BTC, representing 9.39% of the total Bitcoin in the dataset. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between suspicious and non-suspicious wallets, with suspicious wallets showing 11.9 times higher average transaction values, 12.3 times higher average balances, and substantially greater transaction frequencies. Cross-pattern analysis found that 26.4% of suspicious wallets exhibited multiple suspicious patterns simultaneously, suggesting coordinated criminal strategies. The identified patterns align with known cryptocurrency-facilitated crimes such as money laundering, ransomware payment processing, and illicit fund storage. This research contributes to cryptocurrency security by establishing a typology of suspicious transaction patterns, quantifying their financial impact, and providing a framework for enhanced monitoring systems that could improve detection of potentially fraudulent activity across cryptocurrency networks.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Econometrics (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
April 28, 2026
Submission Date
April 4, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 17, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 35
APA
Balcıoğlu, Y. S. (2026). DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 35. https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1669958
AMA
1.Balcıoğlu YS. DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2026;35. doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1669958
Chicago
Balcıoğlu, Yavuz Selim. 2026. “DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 35 (April). https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1669958.
EndNote
Balcıoğlu YS (April 1, 2026) DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 35
IEEE
[1]Y. S. Balcıoğlu, “DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS”, Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, vol. 35, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.35379/cusosbil.1669958.
ISNAD
Balcıoğlu, Yavuz Selim. “DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 35 (April 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1669958.
JAMA
1.Balcıoğlu YS. DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2026;35. doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1669958.
MLA
Balcıoğlu, Yavuz Selim. “DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, vol. 35, Apr. 2026, doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1669958.
Vancouver
1.Yavuz Selim Balcıoğlu. DETECTING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SUSPICIOUS WALLET BEHAVIORS. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2026 Apr. 1;35. doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1669958